@toni.org Are you afraid to answer, or has counsel advised against it? 🤔

Again: Why was the community lied to about the nature of the TM transfer? Why were we told that the TM's were "fully independent from any company" while (as you now admit), that was never true? Why did you lie to us Toni? Why?

Now. For the last time. You are being asked to reconcile the discrepancy between what we — the community — were TOLD and what was the TRUTH.

Toni, YOU know you lied (which is why you keep avoiding the issue).

WE know you lied.

But we want to hear it from you: WHY did you lie?

Fact #3: The exact nature of the rights afforded to A8C were NEVER revealed to the community.

Strong evidence suggests that you deliberately mislead us. For ex., before Sept '24. The TM policy only mentioned A8C as being "in compliance". It further implies that it controls all commercial usage.

⬇️

Fact#2: The TM transfer was sold to the community by you and Matt as Automattic "giving up control" of the marks. You guys told us that the TM's were "fully independent from any company". Read that again Toni:

FULLY
INDEPENDENT
FROM
ANY
COMPANY

⬇️

Fact#1: Your own words... in this very thread... describe various legal rights afforded to Automattic with the TM transfer: Rights that are IRREVOCABLE, PERPETUAL, EXCLUSIVE, and worth MILLIONS.

Some of those rights (e.g. the ability to sub-license for profit) the WPF itself doesn't even have.

⬇️

Incredibly, you're still tip-toeing around the discrepancy between the reality of the TM rights given to A8C, and what you told us about them (nothing). I find it incredibly cowardly that you've repeatedly dodged addressing WHAT YOU KNOW I'M ASKING ABOUT.

Let's make it simple. Here's a recap:

Failure to answer the question (for a third time) will be seen for what it is. And the fact you refuse to answer the question will be shared with the wider open source community. They will then judge for themselves what kind of person you are.

Now... answer the community's question, Toni.

How do you reconcile the public announcements surrounding the trademark donation with the reality of Automattic's "exclusive", "perpetual" and "irrevocable" license?

Answer the simple question, Toni. You can't avoid it forever.

⬇️

Anyways. Let me be perfectly clear. There is ONE — and ONLY ONE — question being asked of you right now.

That question is about the obvious misrepresentation of the trademark's legal status. Specifically:

⬇️

Given all that's happened, it's concerning that you are trying to change focus of the conversation to my identity. Frankly, I have no desire to appear on your secret list of enemies and I see through your thinly veiled attempt at intimidation.

⬇️

Notice that the question I'm asking features very prominently in that thread. It is asked at least 3 different times with a cumulative upvote count of ~240.

My identity is secret b/c of MM's demonstrated pattern of retribution seeking. I'm also concerned about threats from his associates.
⬇️

I'm merely a community member echoing the questions that have been asked over in the WordPress subreddit for the past three months by hundreds, if not thousands of other community members. In case you're unfamiliar here's a very recent sampling: www.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/...

⬇️

Toni. That's not the question. The question you've repeatedly avoided is simple:

How do you reconcile the previously mentioned public announcements with the reality of Automattic's "exclusive", "perpetual" and "irrevocable" license?

My identity has nothing to do with that question, Toni.
⬇️

Now, please stop avoiding this issue in your replies. It's not fair to the community, and it's obvious you're avoiding it. Stop it.

Tell the community: How do you reconcile those public announcements with the reality of Automattic's "exclusive", "perpetual" and "irrevocable" license?

Explain.

3. The Foundation would be responsible for policing the TM's

Quote: "We’re honored to [...] preserve and protect the trademark in the years ahead as a keystone part of the Foundation’s mission..."

wordpressfoundation.org/news/2010/tr...

…

How do you reconcile that with what the community was told?

We were told:

1. Automattic had "donated" one it's "most valuable core assets" and "given up control" of the trademarks. Period.

2. The TM's were now "FULLY independent from ANY company". Period.

…

Thanks for responding. However, you avoided the central question: What did the transfer accomplish? What was the benefit to the community?

Because, we were told that the transfer made the WP name "fully independent from any company". That's clearly untrue.

So what was the point, Toni? Deception?

Toni. If Automattic enjoys "perpetual" and "irrevocable" rights, to "use", "sublicense" and "exploit" the trademarks, what was the point of transferring them to the Foundation?

What did it accomplish?
What is functionally different?